The armpit detox guide – how to make the switch to natural deodorant

Natural deodorants are in vogue, driven by a growing desire to be kinder to our bodies and the environment. In fact, online searches for natural deodorant have increased almost 130 percent over the past two years.

Autumn is the perfect time to make the switch to a natural deodorant as the temperatures drop. But what benefits do natural deodorants have over popular spray and roll-on antiperspirants? And how can you transition but stay smelling great?

Rebecca Bennett, Founder of luxury, vegan personal care company The Solid Bar Company explains the damage anti-perspirants could be causing you, the benefits of using a deodorant that actually works and exactly how to do it…

Why sweating is good

Before exploring why natural deodorants trump synthetic antiperspirants, it’s good to understand why we sweat.

We commonly associate sweat with that unpleasant smell we get after a workout, but these odours aren’t actually from sweat at all. Bacteria on the skin feeds off of the fat and protein that we produce from perspiring and if it’s more than an about hour old, it will start to smell.

In short, sweating is good. But as the name suggests, antiperspirant blocks the sweat glands by covering them with gel plugs, stopping sweat reaching the surface. Many antiperspirants use aluminium salts to do this, which studies have found to be damaging, even potentially having cancer causing qualities. There are also many other potential side effects that scientists are yet to understand.

Water is also usually found as the first ingredient listed on the bottle. This is a cheap filler ingredient, meaning bigger margins for the manufacturers.

How natural deodorant works

The problem with perspiring isn’t sweat, it’s bacteria. Natural aluminium-free deodorants use body-safe ingredients to combat odours and leave you dry and fresh all day.

These include bicarbonate of soda which, at just the right amount, will not cause irritation and successfully neutralise odours. Coconut oil which has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties helps destroy odour, as do the essential oils which not only smell fantastic but also have many other therapeutic benefits as well.

Natural deodorants also don’t leave any unsightly white marks on your favourite black jumper and contain ingredients like clay and arrowroot that absorb moisture.

As well as being kinder to your body, they’re also kinder to the planet too. Before picking a natural deodorant, make sure it’s free of alcohol, parabens, plastics, synthetic fragrances and petroleum ingredients – these are ingredients all too often found in conventional deodorants that can have negative environmental and health impacts.

The armpit detox guide

After years of armpit clogging, it’s inevitable you’ll have lasting blockages in your pores from the aluminium salts. This means there will be a transitional period before the natural product can work its magic.

The good news is, your body will finally be able to rid itself of the built-up toxins, pre-existing bacteria and chemical produce. During this stage, you may find you perspire more than normal and the armpit area is slightly tender – this will pass!

It’ll take 2-3 weeks before your sweat patterns regulate and the lymph nodes in your armpits adjust. Be patient – you’ll reach the point where you’ll benefit.

Choose your timing wisely. The best time of year is Autumn/Winter. In the colder weather you’re less likely to perspire so much, and with COVID-19 restrictions you’re less likely to be seeing friends, family and colleagues.

During the detox, regularly wash your armpits with soap, shave the armpit hair to stop the odour clinging to anything and wear breathable clothing with natural fibres.

It’s also important to keep hydrated by drinking at 1-2 litres of water a day, avoid dehydrating coffee, alcohol and salty, strongly flavoured foods, and eat a balanced diet rich in fresh fruit and vegetables.

…Hey Presto! Your detox is complete. Your pits will be smelling fresh all day and you’ll also have that peace of mind to go with it.